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March 27, 1928. 1,663,899

R. s. BLAIR PROJECTION 0F BULLETS AND OTHER PROJECTILES Original Filed April 26. 1925 36 w #4 cflg'fi 62 V 7- Jg7 @(s: 26

2 a w "w M IN VEN TOR Patented Mar. 27, 1928.

ROBERT S. BLAIR, OF STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT.

PROJECTION F BULLETS .Application filed April 26, 192-3, Serial This inventionrelates to the projection of bullets and projectiles of like character. One of the objects thereof is to provide a.

' practical art whereby the precision of travel of a projectile through the air is substantiallylenhanced; Another object isto provide an art of the above character whereby forces tending to detract from the accuracy of projection of a bulletor'the like are efl0 fectively counteracted. Another object is to provide means dependable in action and cap- -able ofnmaintaininga high degree of precision in the firing ofpriojeotilesw Other objects willbehin part obvious or in part pointedout hereinafter.

The inventionaccordingly consistsiin the features of; construction,- combinations of ele 'ments, arrangementsof-parts and in the several steps and relation andorder of each of as will be illustrativel. described herein,-and the scope of the. application of which will be indicated inthe following claims.

.ln the accompanying drawing in which are shown one or more of the various possible embodiments of theamechanical features of this: invention,

Figure lshows diagrammatically in. side elevation a path of travel of a projectile;

.certainadditional features Figure 3 is a .vertical, sectional elevation ofthe ,end of a guns'barrel showing aprojectile;

Figure dis a sectional. plan viewof the gun barrel shownin Fig. 3;

Figure 5 is a plan viewof a path of a projectile V Figure 6 is a side elevation. of Fig. 5;

Figure 7 is an end view of the gun barrel shown inv F 3' and 4, together with a. diagrammatic representationof certain tendencies of movement of a moving projectile;

Figure 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7 showing a modification;

Figure 8 a viewlooking toward an approaching projectile showing the projectile in two different positions; and

Figure 9 is a plan View of the path of a projectile.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several viewsof the drawing. 7

Referring now to the drawing in detail, there is shown in Fig. l the normal path :the same to one or: more of the others, all

Figure 2 is a .view.si1nilar to, Fig. 1 with AND OTHER PROJEG'IILES.

No. 634,682. Renewed August 11, 1927.

of a projectile fired, for example, from a point- 10 at an objective 11. A projectile moving through the air acted upon the impulse imparted to it at firing and by gravity normally follows a path tracing substantially the curve of a parabola. As shown in Fig. '1, however, the curve is substantially a straight line for a substantial distance from the point of projection until the projectile reaches a point such as 12, for example, when the curve starts to drop olf more rapidly. If, for example, the projectile is fired substantially horizontally. at an objective point 11, its path will normally be that indicated -by the full line in Fig. 1-instead of the desired straight path indicated by the dotted line, and the projectile will fall below the mark.

Referring now to Fig. 3, there is shown tie end portion 13 of the barrel of a rifle or gun or the like and a projectile 14. When a projectile fired from a gun the impulse given the projectile is the result of the force exerted by the rapidly expanding gases generated by the ignition of the explosive charge. These gases expanding against the rear face of the projectile force their Way in between the sides of the projectile and the walls of the bore of the gun with the result that the projectile is accompanied throughout the length of its travel through the gun barrel by a layer of gases between its sides and the walls of the gun barrel, which gases exert apressure from all sides of the projectile transversely of its axis. In Figs. 3 and 4 the gun barrel 13 is shown as having the upper portion of its extreme end cut away, or, which amounts to the same thing, as having its lower portion extended to form a. projection 16. As the rear eud of the projectile let passes the end 15, the downward effect of the above-mentioned pressure exerted by the gases between the walls of the gun barrel and the projectile is suddenly released while the upward pressure caused by the gases between the projectile and the portion 16 of the barrel remains effective. The effect of this is that a force is exerted upon the rear end of the projectile transversely to its axis, which force tends to move the rear end of the projectile upwardly.

The bore of a gun is rifled to give the proj ectile discharged therefrom a rapid rotating movement about its longitudinal axis, and

a body rapidly rotating about an axis acts as a gyroscope. The end of the axis of rotation of a rotating gyroscope always tends to move at right angles to any force impressed upon it, which effect is known as the gyroscopic reaction. Thus, if, for example, the projectile 14 is rotating about its axis in the direction indicated by the arrows in Figs. v

3 and 41-, the above-mentioned force exerted upwardly upon its rear portion as it leaves the gun barrel results' in lateral turning of the axis ofthe projectile to a position such as that shown in Fig. 4 which is a plan view. The projectile 14, therefore, is projected from the gun traveling along the line of projection 17 rotating about its longitudinal axis and with that axis turned laterally at an angle with respect to the line of travel.

vIt is to be understood that the above-describedmethod and'apparatus for bringing aboutthis turning of the axis of the projectile is illustrative only and that other means may be employed to bring about a similar result.

I As the projectile 14: moves through the air with its axis in a position as indicated in "Fig. 4: its side surface 14c is exposed to Wind pressure while its opposite surface 14 is substantially free from such pressure. A force is thereby exerted upon the surface 14* tending to thrust the forward end of the projectile in a direction indicated substantially by the arrow 18. Since, asbefore explained, the end of the axis of a rotating gyroscope always tends to move at right angles to any force impressed upon it, the result of the force indicated by the arrow 18 will be a movement of the forward end of the projectile upwardly or a tipping up wardly of the projectile with respect to its line of travel. The projectile'is traveling rapidly through the air and this gyroscopic reaction to the air pressure 18 takes effect" along its path of travel, preferably resultingin an upward tilt of the projectile with respect to its line of travel substantially j when itreaches the vicinity of the point 12 I indicated in Fig. 2, where it tends to drop substantially due to the effect of, gravity.

The axis of the projectile being thus inclined upwardly, the pressure of the air from beneath exerts a force thereon which tends to a cause the projectile to volplane or drift upwardly along a path such as indicated by to Fig. 2 showing diagrammatically the positions of the projectile with respect to its line of travel when adjacent the end of the gun barrel and also when in the vicinity of the point 12.

with its axis at an angle with respect to the l1ne of travel as indicated in Fig. 4, the wind pressure thereon 'causes' a lateral drift, the

projectile tending to follow a path such as.

that indicated by the solid line in the plan view shown in Fig. 5. The projectile thus strikes the objective at one side. of the objective point 11 although, as above described,

the upward drift. or volplaning as it ap- As the projectile travels through the air proaches the objective causes it to strike at f substantially the desired elevation, as is shown in the side View in Flg. 6a Referring now to F g. 7, there is shown an end elevation' of the gun barrel shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The arrow 19 represents the direction with respect to the line of the gunbarrel in which the projectile tends to drift during the first part of its'travel 'orwhile its axis is turned, as is shown in Fig.4. The arrow 20 indi'catesthe direction'in which the projectile tends to drift through the latter partof its travel, that is,'after it has reached the vicinity of the point 12, and its axis is turned as is indicated at 12 in Fig. 6. In Fig. 8 there is shown an end view of a gun barrel shaped similarly to that'shown in the preceding figures except that its end is cut away on'a line substantially 45 with rc,-. spect to the horizontal instead of being cut away along a horizontal line. As the. projectile is discharged from the end of the barrelshown in Fig. 8, the effect is similar to that above described with regard to Figs. 3

and 4:, that is, its rear portion-1s given a tion substantially as indicated by the arrow 21 in Fig. 8 instead of in a vertical direction as in the preceding case. The gyroscopic reaction of the projectile to this thrust causes the rear end thereof to move ina direction indicated bythe arrow 22 and thus'its axis is turned at an'angle to its line of travel and in a plane angularly disposed with respect to both the horizontal and vertical.- That is, the forward end of the projectile is inclined upwardly and also to one side with respect to its line of travel. The arrow23 of Fig. 8 indicates the direction with respect to the line of travel in which the projectile tends to drift due to wind pressure thereon while its axis is so inclined. WVhen the projectile reaches the vicinity of the point 12 its gyroscopic reaction to this wind pressure, as before described, will have resulted in a movement of the forward end thereof at right .:the vertical. r-betterrealizedrby:reference tov Fig. 8 where looking. toward the a pproachthereof.

.thegun, it will be, in before described, laterally inclined with reis nowiinclined wvith frespect-toits line of travel similarly to. its inclination upon leaving the gun barrel but iatthe 'otherside :of .Thesetwo inclinations may be in 14 is. a View ing projectile during the .first .part rrof its 1.travel, and 14.is:a similar view' ofzthepro jectile after it has reached the-vicinity of; the

point .312. In this latterposition-thedirection in which the projectile tendszto drift-is substantially 'indicatedby the arrow Ql in ig. :8. Thus the tendency of thei'projectile 'to'idriftfrom' a straight path. is made up sub- :stantially of thewsummation Of'i the tendency .lIOF. drift in the two z'diI'GCtlOIlSi indicated day :the :s arrows .23 and .24. The lateral components of the two drifts are iii-opposite directions; :the ;drift..duringithe first part ioflthe projectiles-travel.ibeingto the left.

andthedrift during thelatter part of its travel bemg toward theright, so that a. plan viewof thepathofxitheprojectile is substantially-as indicated'byithelfull line in Fig. 9.

Thus the "projectiledrifts toward one side and then-hack againsso that it strikes the --objecti=ve.in a -vertical plane substantially coincident with theobjective point 11. At

wthe asametime there is-a resultant vertical componentof-thetwo.drifts which tends to :move'the projectile in an upward'direct-ion .and' thereby counteracts or coffsets the effect ,ofrgravity tending to causelthe projectile to :fall-zas-above described with regard to Fig. 2. Thus the projectile strikesthe objective ..-at.substantially thedesired ,point with respectto both thevertical-and thehorizontal. Fron the-above it will .be seenthat there is aherem provided an "-art and means for carrying on the same which-embody the' features of this invention and attainrthe objects It maybe noted .at t-his point that'the proportions and angles as herein illustra- -t1vely: shown are .muchexaggerated 1n order isnierely an example'havingin itself nothing to do with the dominant features of this invention. The tilting means should merely exert such force on the projectile that when it starts .itsflight after it leaves the first case hereinspect waits-direction of flight at such an angle that the air resistance combined with the gyroscopic action .willtend to tilt'the front end upwardly. In. like manner, inthe second casehereinbefore described, the pro- .jectile shouldstartits flight outside-the'gun inclined laterally and upwardly, with the lateral inclination such with respect to the rifling -or rotation ofthe projectile that the air resistance combined with gyroscopic ac- :at an ition'will tendvat first to decreaseithelateral inclination and increase the upward inchnation.

. As Various possible embodiments may be made of the mechanical features -of the above invention and .as'the art hereindescribed might be' varied inyarious.parts,' all without departing'froin' the scope of the inxrention, 'itis to be understood thatall matterJherein sctsfo'rth or. shown in the accom- Lpauying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim as my invention:

1. The herein described art which consists in'turning the axis of a rotatingprojectile at an angle withrespect to its direction of flight to oll set the'efi'ect of. gravity tending 'in turning the axis of arotating'projectile at anangle with respect to its direction of flight to expose the side portions of the projectile to air.pressuretoexerta lifting'fefiect thereon and offset the drop due to gravity.

l. The herein described art which consists in turning the axis of a rotatingprojectile tendency thereof .to

-at an angle with respect to1its direction of travel'to subject the projectile to. air-pressure acting at an angle to its axis and there- 'by exerting a lifting effect thereon.

5. The herein described art which consists in turning the axis of a rotating projectile at an angle with respect to its direction of flight whereby the projectile is subjected to :air pressure transversely to its axis effecting a gyroscopic react-ion of the projectile tendingto againturnits axis with respect to its direction of flight.

-6.'.The'herein described tart-which consists in turning the axis of a rotating pro ectile with respect to its direction of flight to tend to cause a lateral drift of theprojectile first in one direction and then in the opposite direction. v

7. Theherein described art which consists in turning the'axis of-a rotating projectile angle with respect toits line of movement through the air to tend to cause a drift of said projectile in a direction substantially opposite'to the direction in which the projectile tends to move dueto gravity.

8. The hereindesiribed art which consists in subjecting a rotating projectile 'to a thrust substantially transversely to its axis as it leaves the muzzle of a gun to'tend to turn t-heaxis of the projectile at an angle to its direction of'flight and'efl'ecta drift pressure on the projectile.

9. In apparatus of the general nature of angle with respect to its line of flight.

In apparatus of the general nature of that herein described, in combination, a gun barrel for discharging a rotating projectile, and means adapted to exert a thrust upon saidprojectile transversely to its axis of rotation as it leaves the end of said gunbarrel.

.11. In apparatus of the general nature of that herein described, in combination, a gun barrel for discharging a rotating projectile, and means associated with the end portion thereof adapted to effect a thrust upon the projectile transversely to its axis of rotation as it passes therefrom.

-.12.: The herein described art which .COD' sistsin giving arotating projectile an initial impulse at the muzzle of the gun which results in an angular displacement of the axis of the projectile relative to its line of flight therebycausing a drift pressure which due tothe gyroscopic effect of the projectile again displaces the axis of the projectile relative to its line of flight resultingin a drift pressure which tends to compensate for the effect of gravitational forces on the projectile.

13. The herein described art which consists in firing a rotating projectile through 1 the air with its axis of rotation inclined at such an angle with respect toits direction of flight that the air pressure upon the rotating projectile exerts a lifting effect thereon tending to offset the effect of gravitational forces.

14. The herein described art which consists in firing a rotating projectile through the'air with its axis of rotation inclined at such an angle to its direction of flight that the air pressure upon the rotating projectile tends to cause a lateral drift thereof. v

The herein described art which consistsin firinga rotating projectile through the air with itsaxis of rotation inclined at such an angle'to itsdirection of flight that the air pressure upon the rotating projectile tends to cause a lateral drift thereof in one direction throughout a portion of its flight and then, due to the gyroscopic effect of the projectile, causes the axis of the projectile to turn at another angle with respect to its direction of flight so that, during another portion of its travel, the air pressure thereon tends to cause a lateral drift in a direction opposite to said'first drift. 7 r

16. The herein described art which consists in firing a rotating projectile through the air with its longitudinal axis about which it rotates inclined. with respect to the direction of flight of the projectile to effect a drift pressure thereon.

17. The herein described'art which consists in firing an elongated projectile. through the air rotating about its.longitud-' inal axis and with its nose inclined upwardly with respect to its line of flight so that. the

air pressure exerts a lifting effect upon the projectile to counteract gravitational forces acting thereon.

18. The herein described artwhich consists in firing a rotating pro ectile through the air with its axis of rotation inclinedat such an angle to its. direction of flight that the air pressure upon the rotating projectile tends to cause a combined lateral-drift and upward drift. l' l 19. The herein described art which consists in firing a rotating projectile through the air with its axis of rotation inclined at such an angle to. its direction of flight that the air pressure uponthe rotating projectile I tends to cause a combined lateral drift and upward drift throughout a portion of its flight and then,.due tothe gyroscopic effect of the projectile, causes the axis of the projectile to turn at another angle with respect to the direction "of; flight so that,:during another portion of the'projectile s' flight, the

wind pressure thereon tends to cause aflateral drift in a direction opposite to's'aidfirst lateral dri-ftto counteraet said first lateral drift and an upward drift to counteract gravitational forces.

20. The herein described art which consists in firing a rotating projectile through the air with its axis of rotation inclined at such an angle to its direction of flight that the air pressure upon the rotating projectile tends to causea lateral drift throughout a portion of its flight and then, due to the gyroseopic effect of the projectile, causes the axis=of the projectile to turn at another angle with respect to the direction of" flight so v that, during another portion of the projectiles flight, the wind pressure thereon tendsto cause another lateral drift to counteract said first lateral drift and an upward drift to counteract gravitational forces.

21. The hereindescribed art which con-- sists in firing a rotating projectile through the air with its axis of rotation inclined at i an angle relative to its line of flight thereby causing a drift pressure which, due to the gyro'scopic effect of the projectile displaces the axis of the projectile to another position relative to its line of flight resulting in a drift pressure which tends to compensate for the effect of gravitational forces.

In testimony whereof,I have signed my I name to this specification this 20th day of 'April ,1923. 4

. ROBERT s. BLAIR. 

